finding proper superintendents and teachers and in providing sufficient funds. The evening school, however useful it may be made, will, after all, be available only to a small proportion of those boys who are employed by tradesmen, &c., some 8 or 10 hours a-day, and to a still smaller proportion of girls. We 3. The only real and effectual remedy is one which might easily be supplied if the employers of juvenile labour were generally convinced of the well ascertained fact, that a more complete education would make the youths in their service more valuable instruments. They would only have to arrange the employment of the boys so as to allow them to attend school some three hours daily until the age of fourteen, or even fifteen years. This is done occasionally, and with satisfactory results; but if it were done universally, it would altogether change the condition of the labouring classes. should have a really well-educated population, equal to any, and superior to most countries in mere amount of attainment and mental ability, and far above the generality in well directed energies and practical good sense. Such a system would nvolve some alterations in the organization of our schools and in the hours of attendance, which could be easily made without impairing their efficiency, or involving any considerable expense. By what means it could generally or partially be realized is not within my province to determine. Much might undoubtedly be done by a combination of the most enlightened employers of labour in the metropolis, by the civic authorities, and the influence of individuals, but I acknowledge that I can see no reason why the power of the legislature should not be brought to bear upon a question that so materially affects the physical, social, and intellectual condition of the large mass of our population. I have not spoken of industrial schools, because I believe that they are not likely to have any effect upon the class of children who attend our National schools in London. In manufacturing and agricultural districts, and in pauper or reformatory schools in large towns, a system of remunerative employment for children may be most beneficially introduced, but the boys and girls of our artisans and respectable workmen require an education which will expand their minds, cultivate their faculties, give them just views of their duties, privileges, and responsibilities, and make them well conducted and intelligent members of the community. Such instruction is offered now in our best schools; and, if it is not received by all for whom it is intended, this is owing to causes which are wholly unconnected with any inherent unfitness in our educational system. funds for schools. I cannot terminate this report without briefly adverting to Want of the fact that a large number of schools in the east of London, support of and in many suburban and agricultural parishes, are suffering grievously for want of funds. The subject has been brought under the notice of the Lord President in an able letter from the Rev. W. Rogers, the energetic incumbent of St. Thomas', Charterhouse, which contains a faithful and by no means an exaggerated statement of the difficulties, all but insurmountable, with which the clergy of many districts, especially in Bethnal Green, Stepney, have contended during many years, with a patience, earnestness, and self-sacrifice beyond all praise. I have the honor to be, &c. To the Right Honorable F. C. COOK. Number of schools in spected, certificated teachers, teachers. General Report, for the Year 1854, by Her Majesty's Inspector MY LORDS, THE number of schools inspected in this district by Her Majesty's Assistant Inspector, the Rev. J. W. D. Hernaman and myself, during the past year, are 419; viz. 108 boys', 103 girls', and pupil 70 infants', 138 mixed, collected in 277 separate buildings; in which there are 153 certificated teachers, and 382 pupil-teachers. The number of children present at examination was 30,365. The schools receiving annual grants (including "capitation fees") are as follows: above The general character of these schools is good. So far as pro- Character vision for their efficiency is concerned; the buildings, apparatus, tion of and fittings are sufficient; and the teachers well qualified for named their office. The probability is that no great improvement schools. in these respects will be effected. And yet, independently of their insufficiency numerically to supply the wants of the nation (for in many parts of the country they are but thinly scattered), they do not meet the educational wants of their respective localities, inasmuch as they are ill supplied with children. Remorseless competition, whether short-sighted or not, steps in with her demand for cheap production, and tempts the hands, while the school loses the heads and the hearts. In my report of last year I entered somewhat carefully into Attendance affected by the annual amount earned in this district by children between earnings. 8 and 14 years of age, at the rate of earnings in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, viz., 48. per week, amounting to 518,367. 48. There are two ways of looking at these figures. The popular way is to blame the poor for allowing their children to earn this sum. I suspect that if the same temptations were presented to other classes of increasing their incomes 25, 50, or 100 per cent., by means of their children's labour, and that without damaging them for the labour market, (for this is very generally the case with the poor man's child, however ill-educated he be,) very many of those who blame the poor in this matter would fall under it. A careful consideration of this subject seems to me to offer one of these three courses for our remedy I. Compulsory attendance. сс Importance of improving value of III. An improvement in the marketable value of education. This can only be done by a general movement from above. education. When intellectual qualifications are recognized, not only as necessary conditions for certain offices and privileges, but as the sure means of attaining them, all classes, not excluding the labouring," will undergo sacrifices to secure them. Faith in this principle exists in a different ratio in the different grades of society, according to the experience of each. It has scarcely yet touched the poorer classes. Until it does we shall but waste our breath in preaching to them the propriety of carrying first principles to this matter, and of" stinting" themselves and their children now, with the chance of their greater success hereafter. The following figures will show the waste of expenditure in these six counties, in consequence of the excess of educational provision over use : Difference between provision and use of school accommo dation. The returns in my report for this year extend to 277 schools, in which there is accommodation for 357,250 children, according to the space of 8 square feet per child allowed by your Lordships. The ordinary attendance in these schools for the last year has been 29,527; the numbers present at inspection, 33,365. Supposing the amount of accommodation provided to represent the amount required, the sum would stand thus--- With regard to the attendance of the children, I find that in 1850 the number of schools reported upon was 137, in which the ordinary attendance was 13,030, of the children attending these schools the average per cent. of those above the During the past year the number of schools reported upon in this district is 277, in which the ordinary attendance was 29,527. Of the children in attendance at these schools, the average per cent. of those |